National Analyst Takes Firm Stance on John Mateer as Brent Venables Given Ultimatum Over SEC Fate

People are talking about John Mateer in Norman this spring with the kind of buzz that typically surrounds a big-time 2025 NFL breakout star. Oklahoma’s offense has undergone a full-blown renovation. New faces on the offensive line, fresh skill players at wideout, and a new engine in the backfield with Jaydn Ott (Cal) set to take point. But it’s the QB spot where most eyes are fixed. After a chaotic 2024 season that saw Jackson Arnold caught in a mismanaged shuffle, Brent Venables has handed the keys to Mateer, a transfer from Washington State who now carries the expectations of a program trying to steady itself ahead of the full SEC storm. But in doing so, they’ve also handed Venables what feels like a make-or-break campaign.

On3’s J.D. PicKell isn’t shying away from the hype, comparing the preseason chatter around Mateer to last year’s buzz around Cam Ward. Ward, you’ll remember, was another Pac-12 QB who hit the portal and then found himself in the national spotlight with the ACC team Miami. The way PicKell sees it, Mateer’s upside is real and not just media fluff.

“So I’m not saying he’s going to win the Heisman Trophy. I’m not saying he’s going to be the first overall pick. But the way they speak about John Mateer, the confidence they speak about John Mateer with—I am very, very excited to watch him continue what he did in Pullman, Washington, with Ben Arbuckle now running the show out there in Norman,” he said. That confidence, that belief behind closed doors, is the kind of thing that usually precedes a breakout—if the supporting cast and schedule allow it.

But here’s the thing: the schedule might not. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum laid down the gauntlet in a conversation with PicKell, issuing an unofficial ultimatum for Venables’ SEC future. “We’re looking at the schedule here in Michigan early,” Finebaum said. “We talked to, I think, Storia yesterday out in Norman, and he said he really believes Oklahoma with the back end needs to go be five and oh heading into Dallas for the Texas game.” Go 5-0 before playing tough ones, or go home. The pressure to start hot isn’t just about building confidence—it’s about survival. Oklahoma’s SEC slate gets brutal in the back half, and if Brent Venables stumbles early, the whispers about his job security will grow louder by the week.

PicKell was never afraid to double down, and he actually pushed the bar a step further. In his mind, John Mateer is the x-factor that gives Oklahoma a QB advantage in most of their matchups.

“I would actually take it a step further on that schedule and say, when you look up and down that thing in terms of proven commodities, if it comes down to quarterback matchups, I take John Mateer over like 10 of those 12 cats,” he said. “Like, I know Arch Manning is going to be really good. I understand that. But we haven’t seen him play a full season just yet. Like, I look at LSU and look at South Carolina as the two where I probably give those teams like the quarterback edge over John Mateer and Oklahoma. But outside of that, like, Arch Manning is going to have to show me. Jackson Arnold going to have to show me.” That’s not just confidence in Mateer—that’s a statement of belief in Oklahoma’s QB1 being one of the best-kept secrets in the league.

Of course, QBs can’t do it alone. And OU, despite losing six receivers to the portal during the 2025 cycle, has quietly put together a brand-new, explosive receiving corps around QB1. The Sooners have brought in some interesting playmakers from across the college football map—from Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Javonnie Gibson to Arkansas’ Isaiah Sategna, Southern Illinois’ Keontez Lewis, and California’s Josiah Martin. Most recently, they added McNeese State transfer Jer’Michael Carter, another piece of the puzzle in what looks like a Frankenstein’s monster of talent from every level of the sport. None of them are household names yet—but that could change quickly with Arbuckle dialing up the offense and Mateer pulling the trigger. And that’s what this season boils down to: production on demand.

More weapons, John Mateer & Ott, SEC’s next dynamic duo?

When Oklahoma trots out for Year 4 of the Brent Venables era this fall, the energy in Norman will feel different. That spark? It’s coming straight from two new faces, QB1 John Mateer and Cal RB Jaydn Ott. They arrived in town ready to crank up the Sooners’ offensive heat in Year 2 of their SEC journey.

Both Mateer and Ott are seen as significant upgrades over OU’s 2024 backfield, and folks are already buzzing about what this new duo could accomplish in the nation’s toughest conference. Yes, the SEC is a leap, but if you’re expecting a dip in production—don’t. The hype around these two hasn’t cooled one bit.

Pro Football Focus is already on board, labeling Mateer and Ott as one of the best QB/RB combos in college football. Just look at the numbers: Mateer boasts a career PFF grade of 84.1, and Ott’s is even more impressive at 90.1. That’s not just “solid”—that’s special. If this pair clicks like many expect, Oklahoma’s offense could be cooking with gas this fall.